This "First Period" Worcester porcelain tea bowl is decorated with the hand-painted blue and white "Prunus Root" pattern, a popular design that ran from 1752 through to the 1770s. Inside the foot ring is painted the early Worcester crescent factory mark.

The Prunus Root design was influenced by Japanese porcelain that began to arrive in Britain around 1680. Ceramic designs imported by the Dutch East India Company from Arita, known as “Kakiemon” influenced the porcelain decorators at Worcester. Asymmetric designs with flowering peonies, bamboo and pines trees, prunus blossom and flying birds were created. Other Japanese styles were also emulated to a lesser degree.

The tea bowl is just over 2-3/4 inches in diameter and 1-3/4 inches tall.

Purchased from a US antiques shop almost 30 years ago, and offered for sale now as part of a general thinning of my collection.

Fast turnaround on orders, and very careful packaging.